31 or 32 what is the differance?

32's have always been the echeloen (sp) of hot rod building period.....
Just the way i was raised and am gonna raise my kids

And yes there is no resemblence at all just like a mustang to a camaro. Same era, same time, but pull up to a show and get treated totally different.

Sucks but it is true,

 

It can get confusing with people putting '32 grilles in everything and half the As out there riding on deuce rails.

Find a show where there is a '28/29, a '30/31, and a '32 Ford parked next to each other and go over them all. There are a lot of differences actually. Ask the owner of the '32 to point out the differences.... he'll be glad to show you.

 

I have a 31 vicky that has slant back windshield What is that called

 

Model A roadsters and 32 roadsters have virtually the same cockpit measurements.

The only real difference is the 32 roadster cockpit is 2" deeper.


A stock 32 roadster was known as a Baby Lincoln back in the day and if you see a properly restored one there ain't any that are better looking.

Far as hot rods go, the 31 A roadster on a set of swoopy 32 frame rails is better looking than a 32....

 

Gotcha Dirty31, I wasn't reading your comparison correctly. I was thinking more like say a '57 Tbird to a '58 Tbird (same car, big differences).

 

That is interesting for I saw a '32 Lincoln roadster and was amazed at the "simularities" between the '32 and the '32 Lincoln. Not much if any sheet metal interchaged but, you could see the influence between the design.

Never thought about that way....

 

i like the ones the doors open funny on also. 33-34!

forget about model As if your buyin new. get yourself a new deuce & be the hipest kid on the block!

 

This is a Model on a 32 style frame and using a 32 grille shell ( above )



This one is a 32 ... on a 32 frame.
Look at the difference in the windshield, the cowl shape and the fuel neck on the Model A.

From the rear ... there is a good bit of difference also.





Both can be made into good looking Hi-Boys ...
The 32 has longer doors so it is easier for a big guy to get into/out off. The 32 more complex curves to reproduce and therefore costs more to make. It also uses more metal. 32's have a working cowl vent ...

A Model A on a Model A chassis ... is 103 and 1/2 inch wheelbase and the 32 is 106 ... so the 32 chassis rides a little better. It is also thicker and originally engineered to withstand Horsepower better than a Model A.

Brookville sells a Model A on a 32 chassis package ... which is pretty nice IMHO ... especially for a rodder who want to get on the road quicker and not chase old Henry Ford stuff all over the country for a couple of years

 

Thanks for all the feedback, exspiecaly the positive ones, you guys with attitudes f*** you , questions is what this board is for.
I have built:
1-1967 camaro hot rod w/468 12:1 muncie.
1-1968 camaro small block blown
2-1969 camaros 1 with a 555 BB 2 stage NOS 1400 total HP
1-1956 210
72-chevell
1998 wrangler frame off long arm lift.
I ran a 123" super comp Dragster in NHRA Div. 7 for 4 years and wrenched myself.
4 -100 mph boats
I do know how to turn a wrench. Just because I ask a simple question to a new endevor dosen't mean I am a jurk or idiot.

When I look at the "Brookville" hope I have the spelling correct. the 31 and the 32 look like the same body, however the price is alot differant. I see is the last post the raised areas on the body of the 32 around the rear tires, but come on guys, you gotta say there about the same shape car.

I will now step down off my soap box

 

This board is for the exchange of ideas and information for like minded folks who share the love of " Traditional Style Hot Rods "

You walked in here ... and asked a question ( without a introduction I might add ) and were treated better than most folks who do the same. You were cut a little slack because you were asking about old Fords. If your attitude is like the first statement ... in your second reply ... And you cannot see the difference in a Model A and 1932 Ford ...

You might as well pack your stuff and leave now ... cause it ain;t going to be pretty.

 

uh oh...

 

The guy ask a legitimate question----so don't be "Holy-er", just tell him : the gas tank's in the rear, not front, the 32 body is more refined & smoother lines, the frame has nice "reveals" (indentions above running board locations), the 32 body is 2 inches wider than model A's, radiator shell is a more stylish cover, fenders more streamlined, & model A's were built from 1928 thru 1931, whereas the 32 was Edsel Fords "secret weapon" to compete with the Chevy for 1932 sales.---------From another "old guy"

 

This Is Great Info For Zx14, And The Pix Really Show The Differences. The Real Question Might Be - Why All The Hooplaa And Price Of The 32? Now Would Be A Good Time For The Production Number Experts To Justify This Difference.

 

...er,no

 

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm

Unfortunately ... 1932 was the worse year of the Great Depression and the 32 Ford was the lowest produced Ford ... in a long time. There were 4 million Model A's made ... or about 15 Model A's to every 32 Ford. Ford only produced the 1932 Ford for 8 to 9 months ... resulting in even less production.

32's are a little more comfortable and ride a little better. They were the first V8's and therefore were easier to Hot Rod. Hydraulic brakes and other upgrades were easy. I have owned mine for 30 plus years. Never had a Model A ... so I cannot say anything bad ... about them ... BUT ... I like them a LOT also.

 

yeh i get what you mean about being similar, and I also dont understand Brookevilles pricing, sure there is some more work and more substucture in a 32 roadster than a 31, but twice as much?? considering they probably sell more 32s these days its not a quantity thing. . .
Im hopefully getting an A roadster from brookeville later this year, I consider 6 or so grand a bargain.

 

The deuce is special because it's one-year-only, always been somewhat rare, and was the first V8 Ford built. Couple that with some of the best postwar styling - PERIOD - and you see why they're desirable.

That desirability and scarcity make the prices go through the roof.. the only people that can afford them anymore are chainers. You chainers know who you are.

 

Nobody needs to justify the Difference.


If somebody wants to spend his Money on a Car, I dont see why that would be anybody else's buisiness...

 

I read - somewhere along the line - that the Brookville Model A vs the Brookville 32 price differential was due to the cost for the big sheet metal stamping dies for the A's was paid off long ago and the 32 dies were more expensive to start with and there are more of them.

Toss in the desire for many to own a 32 and a little more cost per body could be tacked on.

I'm not sure what delivery times are nowadays, but when the Brookville 32 came out, delivery time was about a year and the 30-31 A times were four months.

Notice how much lighter and more delicate looking the A roadster is vs the muscular looking 32 in the photos Deuce posted.
Part of that is the subtle and similar to a 27 T trunk lines that slope down right at the start on the A vs the level run of the 32s trunk lines.

Makes it tough to get a low design flow line at the rear of the 32, but some guys pull it off quite well.
With the A, the design flow lines are already taken care of and add to the allusion of lowness as well as actually being lower.

Interestingly the 31 A trunk capacity is larger than the 32 from what I can tell just by looking at the two of them side by side.

Not to mention the 32s rumble lid takes away some of the trunk room when its open.

Having done both a 32 and a 31 on 32 rails roadster, the 32 is the easiest of the two to build.
I'm not counting all the additional stuff I made for the 31 vs some stuff bought for the 32.

Either way, both of them were - and are - fun projects and I'm still dinking around with the 32 in some areas while the 31 is - albeit slow - an ongoing project.

Then theres the 29 on 32 rails.
Done right, probably the best looking of them all and looking from here, the most work....

 

It was pointed out in one post that the 32 is 2" deeper, you sit "down" in a deuce. In a 31 you sit more "on" the car.

 

The '31 A always looked like the last of the buggy type, and suppose I mean horseless carriage. Straight up windshield, visor on the closed cars, large diameter narrow tire/spoked wheels and bigtime positive camber, for crowned rode profiles. The '32 was the first of the streamlined era. A huge leap in development on several fronts, esp the common man's V8.

 

I thank those with the positive info, I understand to a "purest" that there must be a huge differance. I can't see how 2" would make a differance in the cab. I read how the 32 had the first V8 and the brakes are better, well I am sure there are those that can afford a "real" car. However I would say that there are a whole lot more customs out there built with everything. I love the responce, I hope I got some of you old farts blood pumping. P.S. some of you guys are acting like corvette owners, "you know who you are" ya I had 2 of them too "63 and 98", went to some shows with it, but could not stand the snotty vette owners.

 

True, but if you set the seats up right you can sit down in an A fairly well.

Big trick is to be 5'7" tall - and this is not a shot at guys who are less than 6' - and set the seat cushion low as possible and you're really out of the breeze.

Along those same lines, my 6'7" tall pal drove my 32 roadster without probs.
Probably because he's used to scrunching down and making do, but the 32 would be easy to set up for him with a little seat redesign.

 

If I were to build a car with a Brookville body it would definitely be a '32. Sure the body costs twice as much but everything else isn't going to cost a penny more. And when you're done you have a kit car that, for all intents and purposes, is just as cool as the real thing and close to the same value if done correctly while the Model A, no matter how nice, will be worth half. To me that's the biggest difference.

 

No one questioned your wrenching, but. man, you got off easy. This ain't your father's HAMB. Thing is, we'd all like to read who you are first (read the Intro notes), but also, it isn't polite to say "F*** You!" to folks that have been around here for a long time. Read some more posts to see how the HAMB works.

Your original question wasn't dumb, just naive and a bit insulting to a board where we eat, drink, live and drive on the differences between an A and Deuce. I'm just amazed you didn't fire up the argument about whether a Brookville body could ever be a traditional hot rod or not.

Anyway, I'll say welcome to the HAMB. Just look around a bit,okay?

 

I agree with C9: an A body on Deuce rails (either '28-29 or '30-31) is more attractive to me than a '32. I like the "tighter ass" of the A, and don't care for the exposed fuel tank on the '32. They're all pretty small for a fat old guy.

I also agree with the comment that if the differences aren't obvious to you, there's no reason for you to consider the Deuce. I think that the price difference has more to do with demand (and tooling amortization) than it does with content.

 

Well both are col when done right,but I would not pay 5 times as much to have a 32 unless I was rich. I wish they were only worth 100 bucks.I do not like rods cuz their worth, but on the styling and look. Really cool other General motor cars out there , but most folks want the top cars: 29, 32 ford roadsters,32-34 3-5 window, 36 ford , 40 ford. So even if they re - popped every body style of course they'd charge more for the popular ones EVEN if they were easier to manufacture. I have seen unpopular styles done well!Well just my opinion.

 

Where do I learn the secret handshake ?????

 

If you don't or can't see any difference in them, Build a 31 and save your money!!!!

 

Vette owners are like any other group.
Most are easy to get along with and a few are sumpin else.

Heres a waitin' for the rest of the gang pic during the Route 66 Fun Run a couple weeks back.
We'll let darned near anyone come along....